Adjustable feeder for pens



Nov. 22, 1938.

F. GEORGE ADJUSTABLE FEEDER FOR PENS Filed March 8, 1957 Z-Sheets-She'et1 Zhwentor Ross F George Gttcrneg Nov. 22, 1938. R. F. GEORGE ADJUSTABLEFEEDER FOR PENS Filed March 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ross F. George IGttomeg Patented Nov. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFmE ADJUSTABLEFEEDER. FOR PENS Ross F. George, Seattle, Wash.

Application March 8, 1937, Serial No. 129,531 17 Claims, (01. 120-114)The present invention relates to artists pens, such as are used forfreehand drawing or lettering, and is particularly intended to provide ameans whereby the capillary channels, whether between the adjacent nibsor-between the pen tip and an underfeeder or an overfeeder, or two suchfeeders, can be-varied in width or thickness, thereby to accommodate thepen, and the feeder or feeders if employed, to inks or colors of greaterbody or of lesser body.

Heavy inks or colors (hereinafter referred to as inks) will not feedproperly along narrow capillary channels and the depth or width of thesechannels must be sufiicient to afford proper feed when such heavy inksare to be used. On the other hand, thinner inks, those having less body,will tend to run toofreely and to blot or smear if the capillarychannels are of too great capacity (width ordepth). In order, therefore,that a given penmay be usable at will for lighter bodied inks or forheavier bodied inks it is necessary that the capillary channels beVariable or adjustable in capacity, and it is to this end that thepresent invention is directed.

The principles of my invention may be illustrated in conjunction with apen without any feeder, the adjustment being made in the spacing of thenibs, or the invention may be embodied in the combination of a pen andafeeder, which may be either an underfeeder or an overfeeder, or indeedin conjunction with two such feeders, and the adjustment may involvevarying, usually simultaneously and by a single means, the spacingbetween the tip of one or both feeders and the pen tip, and if desired,the spacing between the nibs as well.

It is a further object of the invention to provide adjusting means ofthe character. indicated which may be readily manufactured andassembled, and which will be convenient in use.

i It is also an object to provide such an adjusting means which may beadjusted into one of two or more definite positions, and which may bemaintained readily in any one of such positions, or alternatively, anadjusting means which may accomplish several degrees of adjustment,depending upon the particular position in which the adjusting means isplaced.

The style of the pen is relatively unimportant, and may vary widely, asshown in the drawings, as may also the style and mounting of the feederor. feeders. My invention, however, is shown in conjunction with feedersof the general type illustrated in my copending application gerial No.81,822, filed May 26, 1936.

My invention, having in mind the above objects and others as will appearhereinafter, comprises the novel parts and the novel combination andarrangement thereof, as shown in the accom panying drawings, describedin this specification,

, and as will appear more particularly in the claims lustrating anadjustment between two such feeders and a pen. Figure 3 is a similarview showing the adjustment between a different type of feeder and apen.

Figure 4 is an elevation, and in part a section on the line 4-4 ofFigure 5, illustrating a different type of adjusting means, and Figure 5is a longitudinal section. on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an elevation of a pen, showing a means for adjusting thespacing between the usual two nibs of a pen. Figure 7 is a similarelevation, showing an arrangement which will secure several degrees ofadjustment, and Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure 7, showing the sameidea applied to a pen with three nibs. Figure 9 is an enlarged detailsection on the line 9-9 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is an elevation, with parts broken away, Figure 11 is alongitudinal section, illustrating an adjustment of feeders relative toa pen, and Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 10, showing parts in adifferently adjusted position, and illustrating the possibility ofadjustment of the pen nibs simultaneously with adjustment of the twofeeders.

Figure 13 is a longitudinal section through a pen and feeder, showingthe adjusting means mounted on the feeder for disposal in two definitepositions.

Figure 14 is a longitudinal section through a pen and two feeders,showing the adjusting means operative only upon the two feeders, and notnecessarily upon the pen.

Figure 15 is an elevation and Figure 16 a longitudinal section of a penand feeder, wherein adjustment of the spacing of the tips isaccomplished by movement of the feeder longitudinally of the pen, andFigures 17 and 18 are longitudinal sections of pen and feedercombinations similarly adjustable. Figure 18A is a cross section of thearrangement of Figure 18.

Figure 19 is an elevation of a pen and feeder combination, similar toFigures 15 to 18, but wherein longitudinal adjustment is accomplishedonly between certain definite positions, and is accompanied by arelative lateral movement.

The pen I, as I have indicated above, may be of any type suitable forartists work, such as drawing or lettering. It is longitudinally slit atits tip to provide two or more nibs, such a slit being indicated at I0,and this slit, in addition to giving flexibility to the pen, serves as acapillary channel along which the ink flows to the writing tip,indicated at II.

As in my copending application, referred to above, the shank of the penmay be apertured and struck up to form pivot ears I2, and a feeder suchas the overfeeder 2 is pivotally mounted between these ears upon a pivotaxis indicated at 2 I. The feeder may have a rearwardly extending foot20, engageable with a tongue I3, formed preferably as. part of the penbody and projecting into the aperture from which the ears I2 are struckup. The tongue I3 thereby constitutes a spring, bearing upon the foot 20of the feeder to press its tip 23 towards the tip of the pen.Alternatively, or in conjunction with such a spring tongue, the ears I2.may press inwardly upon inclined rear edges of the feeder, to press itstip towards the pen. tip, as disclosed in my copending application. Thepivoting of the feeder permits it to be thrown back from the pen forcleaning, yet in operative position as shown, its tip is always pressedtowards the pen tip.

While a true pivot mounting is shown in this form, and in others, it isaccompanied by means, such as the tongue I3, to produce pressure of thefeeder tip towards the pen tip. The same result can be obtained bysecuring the feeder at 24 to the pen, at a point distant from the tip,and supporting it by means of a flexible neck, as is illustrated inFigure 4, for example- Either such arrangement is in effect a hingemounting, and either is a flexible; or spring-pressed mounting, atleast, for the purposes of: the present invention, hence these terms areherein intended to be synonymous.

As shown inv thearrangement of Figure 2, an underfeeder 3 may behingedly mounted at III in the shank of the pen, and in such a manner asto press its tip 33 towards the tip II of the pen, and in these respectsthe pen and feeders are or may beconstructed similarly to any one of thearrangements disclosed in my copending application.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 1 a screw 4 is threaded in the feeder2, and its end bears upon the penI, reacting in opposition to the springmounting. By screwing the screw 4 in or out the spacing between the tips23 and I I of the feeder and pen, respectively, can be varied, and thusthis capillary channel can be increased or decreased in capacity toaccommodate inks of different body.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 2 the tips of both feeders arespring-pressed toward the pen tip, and the screw 4 passes through a slotor aperture I4 in the pen, being shown as reduced in diameter to formthe extension which bears on the underfeeder3 to press the latter awayfrom the pen simultaneously with the pressure of the overfeeder awayfrom the pen.

In the arrangement shown. in Figure 3 the underfeeder 3, hinged at 3I,'has an extension or foot 32 which engages the spring tongue I3, and thelatter, adjacent the foot 32, is provided prevent the pin from fallingout.

with two transverse grooves I5, whereby, by engagement of the end of thefoot 32 in one or the other of the grooves I5, to space the tip 33 ofthe underfeeder a greater or lesser distance away from the tip II of thepen.

In Figures 4 and 5 the overfeeder 2 is slotted to provide pivot ears 25,and a cam or disk 4| is eccentrically pivoted between these ears at 42,and bears upon the pen to space the tip 23 of the feeder a greater orlesser distance from the tip I I of the pen. The periphery of the disk4I may be knurled or otherwise roughened to prevent its slippingrelative to the pen, although when ink has been applied to the surfacesthe frictional grip is improved, and it is unlikely that they will slip,even though the periphery of the disk be not roughened.

In Figure 6 a slot I5 is provided as an extension of the slit III whichdefines the nibs, and in this slot is received a pin 5. Preferably theslot is of a width at its inner end, that is, the end distant from thetip II, equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the pin 5,and heads 50 and 5| At its outer end, that is, the end nearest the tip,the slot I5 may be of equal width, or it may be reduced in width, andslight nubs I6 are formed at the entrance to this narrow portion so thatthe pin 5 can be pressed into this narrow portion and retained there bythe nubs I6, thus definitely ho1ding the pin in at least two definitepositions. In the latter position, if the outer end of the slot isnarrower than the pin, the nibs of the pen will be spread apart, thusincreasing the capacity of the capillary channel defined by the slit I0,and

making it capable of accommodating inks of heavier body. In this form nofeeder is shown in conjunction with the pen, although one or two feedersmay be used if desired, and ordinarily a suitable feeder or feederswould be used, the head 50 of the pin serving to space the feeder tipfrom the pen tip, more or less, in the two different positionsdescribed.

A similar arrangement is shown in Figure '7, where, however, the slot I5may be progressively decreased in width towards the tip, but in anyevent the pin 5 is held in any one of several positions lengthwise ofthe slot, thus to vary by severaldegrees the spacing of the tips, and,if the slot is progressively narrowed, the width of the In Figures 10,11 and 12 both an overfeeder 2 and an underfeeder 3 are shown, and therespective heads 50'and 5| of the pin 5, sliding lengthwise'of the slotI5, engage the feeders 2 and 3. In the form of Figure 12, at the sametime that the nibs are being spread apart the heads may space the feedertips from the pen tip. Spacing of the feeder tips from the pen tipoccurs because the feeder tips are inclined toward the pen tip,consequently sufficient movement of the heads of the pin 5 from aninoperative position at a point most distant from the tip I I towardsoperative position, in a direction towards the pen tip, brings them intocontact with the inclined inner faces of the feeders, and acts to spreadthe feeders at their tips away from the pen tip.

The slot I5, in Figures 10 and 11, has three enlargements at I8, toretain the pin 5 in three definite positions lengthwise of the slot,due, of course, to the resilient tendency of the pen to resist spreadingof the nibs. In that position most distant from the tip, the heads ofthe pin will not contact with the feeders, and, the enlargement being aslarge as the pin, the nibs are not spread apart. In the next position,as shown, the heads engage the feederaand space their tips from the pentip, but the enlargement may be as large as the pin, so that the nibsare still not spread apart. In the third position the feeders are still,or more widely spaced from the pen tip, and if the enlargement is ofsmaller size than the pin, the nibs will be spread apart also. If thelast enlargement is equal in size to the pin, the nibs will not bespread. If the two positions first described provide suffioientadjustment the third may be omitted, or if more positions, and a fineradjustment, is desired, the number of enlargements may be increased. I

The same general arrangement can be employed in the form illustrated inFigure 13, wherein the pin in is received in a slot 26 extendinglengthwise of the feeder 2. This makes the adjustment of the pin 5somewhat easier, and the feeder may be slightly deformed, as indicatedby the bump 2! in Figure 13, to hold the pin 5 either in the inoperativeposition shown in the dot and dash lines or in an operative positionshown in full lines.

Should it be desirable to use an underfeeder and an overfeeder both, thepin 5 may be supported in the slot 26 in the overfeeder 2, or in theunderfeeder if preferred, and as shown in Figure 14, it has a reducedportion 52 extending through the slot 55 in the pen to engage thepivotally mounted underfeeder. 'The width of the slot may vary asdescribed in connection with Figures 10, 11 and 12, or it may not, aspreferred. The underfeeder may be provided with a depression or pocket,indicated at 35, for the reception and definite positioning of the end52 of the pin 5, thus securing, if desired, a definite spacing of thefeeder tips from each other and from the pen tip, and maintaining partsin this adjusted position against any tendency to slip, as they might,due to flexing of the pen (and feeders) in use.

Instead of accomplishing the adjustment of the spacing of the tips bymovement of a member lengthwise of the pen or feeder, the feeder itselfmay move lengthwise of the pen, and relative to cooperating spacermembers on one or both of the pen and feeder. Thus, in Figures 15 and16, the mounting 28 may be received in a slot II in the pen shank, sothat the feeder 2 can be moved, by means of an upturned flange 29,lengthwise of the pen l. The slot 1!? may have cooperating enlargementssimilar to the enlargements E8, or equivalent means, to retain thefeeder in any one of several definite positions. The feeder, near itstip, has a transverse channel or recess 6, to receive within it, in oneposition of the feeder, a trans- .verse ridge or upraised bump l9adjacent the pen tip. The feeder tip now lies close to the pen tip.

In another position of the feeder, as shown in dotted lines, theinclined side of the channel 6 rides upon the ridge i9, spacing thefeeder tip from the pen tip. In Figure 17 the same action occurs, thepivot mounting 2| sliding lengthwise in a slot in the pivot ears H. InFigure 18, to accomplish the same result, the feeder is merely retainedbeneath opposite lips 24', struck up from the pen shank, and may be slidlengthwise of the pen and relative to these lips 24.

In the form shown in Figure 19 the pin l which passes through the feederand pen permits lateral swinging of the feeder. If the pin 1 isflattened at one or more sides, and is received in an enlargement III atone end of a narrower slot H in the pen shank, the feeder 2 can not bemoved lengthwise of the pen until it has been swung outwardly, as shown.rotating the pin 1 until a flattened side is parallel to the edges ofthe slot H. The pins width in this position being no greater than theslot II, it can be moved lengthwise of the slot, and upon its reachingthe enlargement 12 the pin can be rotated, by swinging the feeder backinto alignment with the pen. The pin can not, in this new position,slide lengthwise of the slot, and the feeder is held in a definiteposition. In this latter position, as in the dotted line positions ofFigures 16 and 17, the recess 6 cooperates with a bump on the pen tospace the feeder tip farther from the pen tip. Such an arrangement, inaddition, facilitates cleaning of the pen and feeder.

It is believed that the principles of my invention will be understoodfrom the foregoing, and it will be understood that these principles maybe embodied in various forms, and in various combinations; Because ofthe small size of some of the parts it has been necessary in thedrawings to exaggerate sizes and spacings, and it will be understoodthat the parts will be made of such size, and the spacings will be soregulated and adjusted, as to serve the respective purposes intended,asis well understood in this art, and it is not necessary to make theparts or the spacings as great as is shown in the drawings, but they arenecessarily so shown in exaggerated fashion for purposes ofillustration.

The movement of feeder tips relative to the pen tip, and of the nibsrelative to each other, has the advantage that it tends to loosen andbreak up any incrustation of dried ink at these points, and therebymakes the ink flow more freely, and lessens the likelihood of flakes ofdry ink blurring a line, or marring the smoothness of the line beingdrawn.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination with an artists pen, a feeder disposed with its tip inadjacent relationship to the pens tip to provide a capillary channel forthe ink, and means to vary the spacing of said tips and substantially tomaintain such spacing, to accommodate such channel to inks of differentbody.

2. In combination with a flexible pen, a feeder flexibly mounted on theshank of the pen, with its tip adjacent the pen tip, and means to varythe spacing of said tips, and substantially to maintain such spacing.

3. In combination with a pen, a feeder flexibly mounted on the shankthereof, with its tip adjacent the pen nibs, and means carried by thepen to hold the feeder tip spaced to definite distance from the pennibs, regardless of flexing of the pen, and to adjust such spacing.

l. In combination with a pen, a feeder flexibly mounted on the shankthereof, with its tip adjacent the pen nibs, and means supported fromthe feeder to adjust the spacing of the feeder tip from the pen nibs.

5. In combination with a pen, a feeder swingably mounted on the shankthereof, with its tip adjacent the pen tip, and spacer means movablelengthwise of the pen and feeder, and reacting therebetween, to spacethe feeder tip apart from the pen tip, by definite distances which aredependent upon the position of adjustment of said spacer means.

6. In combination with a pen, a feeder flexibly mounted on the pen, andguided thereon for movement lengthwise of the pen, and means cooperatingbetween the pen and feeder to vary the spacing between their tips inaccordance with the position of the feeder lengthwise of the pen.

7. In combination with a pen, a feeder flexibly mounted on the shankthereof, with its tip adjacent the pen nibs, and inclined away from thepen towards the mounting, as viewed in longitudinal section, and abutton head disposed in the space between the feeder and pen, and guidedfor movement lengthwise of the pen and feeder, from an inoperativeposition wherein, of the pen and feeder, it is out of contact with one,and an operative position wherein it is in contact with both, to spreadapart the tip and nibs.

8. The combination defined in claim 7, wherein the pen is slottedlengthwise, and the button head is guided in such slot.

9. The combination defined in claim 7, wherein the feeder is slottedlengthwise, and the button head is guided in such slot.

10. The combination of claim 2, and a second feeder flexibly mounted onthe pen, the spacingadjusting means being further engageable with thesecond feeder, to vary the spacing of its tip from the pen tip.

11. The combination of claim '7, and a second feeder mounted upon thepen at the side opposite the first feeder, and means carried by saidbutton head and engageable with the second feeder, but only in theoperative position of the parts, to space its tip from the pen nibs.

12. In combination with a pen constituting one member, and a feeder,constituting another member, flexibly mounted on the shank thereof, todispose its tip adjacent the pen tip, and inclined towards the pen tip,one of said members being longitudinally slotted, a headed pin guided insaid slot for movement lengthwise of the pen, its head, when it is atone end of the slot, being out of contact with one such member, and whenit is at the other end of the slot engaging the latter member to spreadthe tips of the two members apart, and means to positively maintain thepin and its head at will in each of two or more positions lengthwise ofthe slot.

13. The combination defined in claim 12, wherein the slot is formed inthe pen, in continuation of the slit defining the nibs thereof, and suchslot is provided with inwardly directed nubs constituting the means tomaintain the pin in position.

14. In combination with a pen, a feeder hingedly mounted on the shank ofthe pen, with its tip disposed adjacent the pen tip, spring meansreacting between the pen and feeder to press the feeder tip towards thepen tip, and means reacting between the feeder and pen to adjust thespacing of the two tips into a plurality of different positions, andsubstantially to maintain each such spacing in all positions of use ofthe pen.

15. In combination with a pen, a feeder flexibly mounted upon the pen,with its tip adjacent the nibs of the pen, a spacer eccentricallypivoted on one thereof, and bearing upon the other, to vary the spacebetween the feeder and pen nibs.

16. In combination with a pen, a feeder mounted thereon for relativemovement, and cooperating inclined surfaces formed on the pen andfeeder, and engageable by such relative move ment to hold the feeder tipand the nibs of the pen spaced more or less apart, in accordance withthe relative positions of such inclined surfaces.

1'7. In combination with a pen, a feeder supported and guided thereonfor sliding movement lengthwise of the pen, the pen having a transversebump adjacent its tip, and the feeder having a transversely inclinedsurface cooperating therewith, upon lengthwise movement of the feeder,to increase the spacing between the feeder and the nibs of the pen.

ROSS F. GEORGE.

